Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) was performed at room temperature using Aloe vera plant extract in the presence of ammoniacal silver nitrate as a metal salt precursor. The formation of AgNP was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy at different time intervals. The shape and size of the synthesized particle were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. These results were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses and further supported by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy/Raman scattering (SERS) study. UV-visible spectrum has shown a sharp peak at 420 nm and further evidenced by FTIR peak profile (at 1587.6, 1386.4, and 1076 cm−1 with corresponding compounds). The main band position with SERS was noticed at 1594 cm−1 (C–C stretching vibration). When samples were heated under microwave radiation, AgNP with octahedron shapes with 5–50 nm were found and this method can be one of the easier ways to synthesis anisotropic AgNP, in which the plant extract plays a vital role to regulate the size and shape of the nanoparticles. Enhanced antibacterial effects (two- to fourfold) were observed in the case of Aloe vera plant protected AgNP than the routinely synthesized antibiotic drugs.Graphical AbstractShape and size-controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Aloe vera plant extract Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11671-016-1725-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We have developed a novel methodology for the determination of Aloins A and B in Aloe vera plant extract and commercial Aloe vera product formulations using HPLC method. The result shows good sensitivity and accuracy which can be utilized for the scientific validation of bioactive compounds present in the commercial formulations.